Dec 24, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. Smurfit-Stone announced it was extending its temporary shutdown for two weeks at its Hodge paper mill, Louisiana, Lesprom Network informed according to The News Star. Smurfit-Stone executives idled the plant on December 12 with plans to reopen on January 1, but the company said it extended the shutdown until January 14 because of weak demand for its products. “The current market conditions required us to extend the shutdown,” company spokesman Mike Mullin said. “It’s a reflection of the current economic conditions.” Smufit-Stone’s temporary shutdown, the first time the plant has ever been completely idled, comes on the heels of International Paper closing its Louisiana Mill in Bastrop for good, throwing 550 people out of work. IP had also initially said its shutdown was temporary. The Hodge mill produces bag paper, linerboard and corrugated paper.